WALKER, Mich. -- After Kent County Animal Control officers reported finding 17 dogs inside a pickup truck on Monday, a woman is facing a felony charge.
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said Carolyn Newsome will be charged with one count of failing to provide 10 or more animals with adequate care. He says that is punishable by up to four years in prison, a 5-thousand-dollar fine and up to 500 hours of community service.
"When you have these types of charges, it really strikes close to home," Becker told WOOD Radio. "And we do everything we can to ensure these people are held accountable that are engaging in this sort of damaging behavior to animals."
In addition, Newsome could be ordered by a judge not to own or possess an animal, if she is found guilty.
Becker's office said in a news release, "Ms. Newsome is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court."
No arraignment time had been set yet at the time of publication.
"Anytime we have a case involving animals, it gets a lot of attention because everybody's got a pet of some sort," Becker said.
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